Editor's Note: This story was originally published on July 17, 2008. To see the most recent SmarterT

Editor's Note: This story was originally published on July 17, 2008. To see the most recent SmarterTravel articles on related topics, please click on any of the following links: car rental , fuel , Hertz , Sarah Pascarella .
With everyone feeling the crunch of high fuel prices this summer, it's seems a no-brainer to rent a hybrid car you'll use less gas and get more for your buck, right? Actually, the answer may be no. With a bit of investigation, I found choosing an economy car over a hybrid was often the more economical choice.
The problem lies not in the gas mileage, but in the per-day rental car rates. Economy cars are typically the cheapest car rental dublin airport on the market they're small, are relative gas-sippers, and usually have no frills (don't expect auto locks, a souped-up stereo system, or other gadgets), leading to a low per-day rental price. They're also available car rental dublin airport pretty much everywhere, so the supply and demand ratio is usually at a good balance. Conversely, hybrids feature desirable amenities such as excellent gas mileage, nice stereos, heated seats, and the like and they aren't offered at many national rental agencies. ( Hertz was the only provider I found that consistently rents such models.) When I did find them available for rental, their per-day rates were astronomical more than $60 per day at some locations. Advertisement
car rental dublin airport San Francisco to Yosemite National Park Total for two-day Toyota Prius hybrid car rental and round-trip gas: $194 Total for two-day Hyundai Accent car rental dublin airport economy car rental and round-trip car rental dublin airport gas: $139 Best value: Economy car saves $55
New York City to Cape May beaches, New Jersey Total for two-day Toyota Prius car rental and round-trip gas: $258 Total for two-day Hyundai Accent car rental and round-trip gas: $257 Best value: About the same (Economy saves $1)
Seattle to Olympic National Park Total for two-day Toyota Prius car rental and round-trip gas: $142 Total for two-day Hyundai Accent car rental and round-trip car rental dublin airport gas: $99 Best value: Economy car saves $43
The best advice? Don't book blindly. Take advantage of online fuel cost calculators and price-comparison sites (such as SmarterTravel.com's price-comparison tool ) to research the best value for your upcoming trip.